Heating costs soaring? The smart ways to heat your home for less this winter
At first glance, the problem seems simple: turn the heating on when it’s cold. But for millions of households, that decision now comes with anxiety, calculation and compromise.
Barratt Redrow’s innovation lead Oliver Novakovic, who is working with scientists at the Energy House 2.0, the UK’s biggest energy research project at the University of Salford, shares tips on how to save money when heating your home.
Researchers at Energy House 2.0 have spent the past 18 months testing heating systems to see which ones will heat consumers’ homes the best at the lowest cost, as well as researching how to create air-tight homes that are still breathable.
1. Turn down the flow: Boiler heating flow refers to the temperature at which water leaves your boiler and flows into your radiators.
The Energy House 2.0 team measured the impact of turning down the flow on your boiler and found that it was the single biggest way to cut energy costs – and with zero initial outlay.
The scientists found that lowering boiler temperatures from 80 degrees to 60 degrees saved 12 per cent of gas used to heat the house. A lower flow temperature means your radiators won’t be as hot to the touch and your rooms may take slightly longer to heat up. But, if your home is well insulated, you’re unlikely to notice much difference and could make a big saving on your energy bills.
2. Give your boiler some TLC: Boilers should be serviced at least once a year for safety and warranty. It’s usually better to do this during the summer months, as plumbing engineers are quieter and any issues can be fixed before the big freeze.
3. Get lofty with your energy savings: Home insulation allows you to keep your house warm by preventing heat from escaping. For older UK homes, excess heat can be lost through the walls and roof, which can increase energy bills.
Homes built before the 1920s will likely have solid walls with no insulation at all. New build homes, on the other hand, must comply with the most recent building regulations, and can be up to 65 per cent more energy-efficient than an older home.
It is best to use mineral wool insulation to insulate a loft, which can cost around £1,000 in a detached house.
Despite the upfront costs, annual savings on energy bills could be around £340 a year for a detached home and £200 for a semi-detached, according to Which?.
4. Mind the gap: A common misconception of draught-proofing is to block all air flow into a home, but instead, Oliver says that it is about having controlled ventilation. Some air still needs to flow in and out of a house to help to reduce condensation and dampness, which can result in harmful mould growth, especially in moisture-rich rooms like kitchens and bathrooms.
He adds: “Try to locate draughty areas around your home so that you can fix them before the freezing temperatures set in. The gadget that will make a world of difference, when you’re trying to work out why your house is cold, is a smoke pencil draught detector. You can pick one of these up for less than £50 to easily find the places where air is leaking.
“Many older homes with hardwood front doors will experience worse draughts in the winter as they are susceptible to expanding in heat and contracting in the cold, meaning gaps around the frame will become even wider.
“To combat this, invest in a draught exclusion runner to go along the bottom of your door. You can also purchase lengths of gap sealer to run around the frame, preventing cold air from blowing in around the door frame.”
5. Close the curtains. The research found that closing curtains or blinds can significantly reduce heat loss through windows, especially in older homes with single-glazed windows. In a full-scale test house, curtains and blinds reduced heat escaping through windows by around 10–30 per cent, depending on how the room was heated and how well the coverings fitted.
6. Pump up the heat: Scientists at Energy House 2.0 found that air source heat pumps can cost as little as £1.84 on a typical winter day to heat a home and are more efficient than current gas boilers, as they keep a more constant temperature, rather than spikes of heat.
7. Wrap up your pipes: The most effective way to prevent your pipes from freezing is to insulate the pipes in your loft and the water tank.
Oliver adds: “Most pipe insulation comes as a foam tube which you can push onto your pipes. For more awkward bends, you can also use insulating wraps to cover these sections of pipe. Make sure you know the measurements for your pipes and water tanks before you purchase any insulation and avoid using potentially flammable materials.”